And will



May 26, 1931.

s. GOODMAN ET AL FOOTWEAR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Flled Aprll 15 1927 I, l n 'nW l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m, Q i @y Q Samuel @codmz May 26, 1931. s'.GODMAN ET AL FOOTWEAR Filed April 15, 1927 Patented May 276, 1931 yUNITED )STATES *PA'l'E-NT OFFICE SAMUEL GOODMAN, on CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,AND WILL N. SEOHLER, or FORT SooTT,

Y KANSAS `FOOTWEAR Application Vfiled April 15,

Our invention relates to therapeutics, and more speciiicallyto curingfoot ailments including correction of a large number of variousdisabilities and weaknesses commonly '5' referred to; as fallen arches.Among the objects and advantages of the invention may be enumerated theextension of the range of service of al single device toV functionproperly throughout the various stages of In the drawings: o y Figure 1is a longitudinal section of a shoe last;V f l Figure 2 is a plan of themetal parts of 15 a supporting arch;

Figure 3 is a longitudinalsection through the partly assembled parts ofthe sole of a shoe; and

Figure 4 is a phantom-diagram of a completed device in use.

The last is provided with a special concavity 12 to assist in buildingupthe com'` pleted shoe in the proper shape. Uponfthis last is laid theinsole 14,'which is pressed down to lie smoothly against the bottom vofthe concavity 12. The uppers 15 are lapped over the edge. of the insoleand 1 thewelt 16 is fastened to the insole and uppers inV the usual way.Near the toe,fa layerv of 30 filling 18 is positioned nextthe insole 15,y which filling ymay beof` amtarry or cementitious nature. Back ofthefilling is positioned a padding 20, such as loose hair felt. orcork.ai' 'Y The arch comprises a shank, member 22-` and a front section orflap 24. They are arjticulated together by means of side tongues,l 26-On the shank membergand.-a"central tongue 28 onl the flap, continued asan ern-- bossment across the-bodyat 29 to strength,-V en and stiifen thestructure.` The centraltongue 28 is offset from the plane of the, bodyof the flap sopas to lie onzthe opposite side of the shank member, theuppermost side when inuse as in Fig. 4. This articulation permits theflap to pivot about a transverse hinge line at the rearedge of the bodyof the flap in a downward direction from the position of Figure 4, butnot in an upf-l ward direction. When it is tipped down, a

1927. Serial No. 184,024.

slight tilt sidewise also permitted.

vIn assembling the shank member with the parts already discussed inconnection with Fig. 3, a strip of adhesive tape, such as a materialcommonly referred to as bicycle tape, is wrapped once completely around`the iiap by laying one end of the strip over the tongue 28, as at 30 inFig. 3, then back under the entire iiap as at 32, andjagain over theflap as at 34,fandback over almost the entire length of the reach, as at36. Y. This provides a fabric hinge connection at 38 in addition to themetallic interconnection formed by the tongues 26 and 28.

The shank member is provided with bosses 40'and the tongue 28 has asimilar boss 42.

in either direction is In addition Vto vstiifening the metal, thesebosses embed themselvesslightly in the padding 20. This, combined withtheadhesion ofthe tape to-the padding 2O and to the outer sole 44,functions in combination with fixed attachment means at the extreme rearendsonly, as at`46, to keep the arch support asa whole in place. Theadhesion may be somewhat improved by layingshort transverse strips ofadhesive tapev at 48 and at l50 to increase the area of adhesion.

The front end of the flap is bent back `itself as at 5 2, and thencurved upward to form a dome 54 resiliently `supported by the connectionat` 52. This makes this portion of the supportseem soft and yielding.

Referringnow to Fig. k4,`it will be appar i ent that` the dome 54 issubstantially centrally located with respect to thev metatarsal arch ofthe wearer. longitudinal and a transverse sense. It will also benotedthat the thickness of the integument between the metatarsal bone 56 andthearchl 54 is approximatelyequal at the fronti and rear ends ofthearch.

jWhen the device is in use, the-placing of the:` heel-58. upon theground affords the navicularY bone 60, the first cuneiform bone 62, andthesecond and third cuneiform and cuboid bones (not shown) aconsiderable measure of support by cantilever action,for the reason thatthe posterior end of the shank member 22 extends back well under This istrue both in a i the point of the calcaneous bone 64, which affords apurchase far enough back from the front edge of the keel to permit suchaction. During such action and before the load is imposed on the forwardpart of the foot, the flap 24 may pivot freely downward, i. e.,

there is noarticial support in front of the' tarso metatarsalarticulations.

The transfer of a small amount of weight toward the front part of thefoot will bring the toe 52 into supporting relation with the ground,after which both the tarsus and metatarsus are supported by beam action.The fulcrum at 52 is preferably back of the metatai'sal-phalangealarticulations, but the force transmitted to the foot by the archstructure is primarily from the dome 54, which is still further backunder the center of the metatarsal arch.

Since the only fixed attachment for the metal arch is at the extremerear, slight lateral shifting of the front end can occur. This permitsthe front end to adjust itself laterally to a perfect fit.

lVithout further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain thegist of our invention, that others nay, by applying current know-ledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service,without eliminating certain features which may properly be said toconstitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items areintended to be defined and secured to us by the following claims. Thatis claimed is:

l. The method of assembling a shoe containing a'two-pieee arch supportwith interlocking projections forming a one-way fiexible connectionbetween the pieces; which comprises wrapping adhesive tape aroundV onepiece with one end of said tape passing through the connection and theother end laid across said first end'and over said other piece; layingthe unit thus assembled on the inner sole; and securing it only at therear end near the rear end of the heel of the shoe.

2. The method of assembling a shoe containing a two-piece arch supportwith interlocking projections forming a one-way flex- `ible connectionbetween the pieces; which comprises wrapping adhesive tape around onepiece with one end of said tape passing through the connection and theother end laid across said first end and over said other piece; layingthe unit thus assembled on the inner sole; and securing it in place.

3. The method of supporting arches which comprises furnishing thenavicular, cuboid, and all the cuneiform bones with partial support bycantilever action from the heel structure of a shoe leaving the footfree toflex downwardly in the matatarsal region; shap` ing an upwardlyconvex dome in the insole conforming to and coextensive bothtransversely and longtitudinally with the con-Y cavity of the metatarsalarch; supporting the center of said dome resiliently; and replacing thecantilever tarsal support by beam support when the removal of weightfrom the heel makes it incapable of furnishing can tilever support.

4. A shoe comprising an insole; an outer sole; a filling between saidsoles back to the metatarso-phalangeal articulations; a padding. betweensaid'soles back of said filling; a reinforcing means between said solesrunning back from said filling to a point near the rear end of the heel,and embedded in said padding; said reinforcing means having anintermediate hinge connection permitting the middle to fiex up but notdown from normal position; projections on said means, and adhesive tapefor holding said meansin place; and a positive attachment for theextreme rear end of said means.

5. Ashoe comprising an insole; an outer soie; a filling between saidsoles back to the metatarso-phalangeal articulations; a paddingbetweensaid soles back of said filling; a reinforcing means between said solesrunning. back from said fillingto a point near the rear end of the heel,and embedded in said padding; said reinforcing means having anintermediate hinge connection permitting the middle to flex up but notdown from normal position; and projections on said means, and adhesivetape for holding said means in place.

(i.Y A shoe comprising an insole; an outer sole; a filling between saidsoles back to the metatarso-phalangeal articulations; a padding betweensaid soles back of said filling; a reinforcing means between said solesrunning-back from said filling to a point near the rear end of the heel,and embedded in said padding; said reinforcing means having anintermediate hinge connection permitting the middle to flex up but notdown from rnormal position; and projections on said means for holdingsaid means in place.

7; A reinforcing arch for shoes comprising a` shank member extendinginside the sole from near the rear end of the heel to approximately thetarsometatarsal articulations; a leaf hingedly connected to the frontend of said shank member, and extending forward to form afulcrumslightly behind the metatarso-phalangeal articulations; and a"dome resiliently mounted above said leaf at about the longitudinal andtransverse center of the metatarsal arch; theA hinge connectionpermitting said leaf to swing down but not upwith respect to said shankmember. j

8l A` reinforcing arch for shoes compris ing a shank member extendinginside the sole from near the rear end of the heel to approximately thetarsometa'tarsal articulan tions; a leaf at the fronty end of said shankmemberext'ending forward to form a ful- Crum slightly behind themetatarso-phalangeal articulations; and a dome resiliently mounted abovesaid leaf at about the longitudinal and transverse center of themetatarsal arch.

9. A shoe comprising in combination, a multiply sole, an arch supportbetween the plies, padding between said support and the ply above it,and reinforcing bosses on said support embedded in said padding to holdthe support inplace, said support being fixedly fastened in place nearits extreme rear end only.

l0. A shoe comprising in combination a multi-ply sole structure, avhingedly connected metal arch support between said plies, and flexiblefabric adhering to the sections of said ysupport adjacent the hinge tohold said sections against separation and to reduce noise created by themovement of the sections of said support.

ll. A shoe comprising in combination an insole, an outer sole, an archsupport between said soles running back to a point near the rear end ofthe heel, plastic padding between said soles and` distributed aroundsaid support to embed the latter, yielding means for connecting saidsupport to said shoeonly at the rear end of said support to permit saidsupport to move slightly transversely of said shoe so as to adjustitself to the arch of the wearer,

and projections on said support embedded in said padding to resistshifting of said sup-` port, but permitting movement thereof to securethe aforesaid adjustment.

12. A shoe comprising in combination an insole, an outsole, a metal archsupport built into said shoe and lying'between said insole and outsole,said support consisting of a forward part .having a dome-like transversemetatarsal arch support lying under the anterior metatarsal arch andbehind the heads of the metatarsal bones, a rear part and a hingedconnection between said forward and rear parts and being constructed andarranged to permit said parts to flex upwardly and to separatelongitudinally, and means associated with said connection for limitingthe downward flexure of said arch.

13. A shoe comprising in combination an insole, an outsole, a metal archsupport built into said shoe and lying between `said insole and outsole,said support' consistingVV of a forward part having a dome-,like memberproviding a transverse metatarsal arch support lying under the anteriormetatarsal arch and behind the heads of the metatarsalV bones, a rearpart, said parts having inter fitting fingers at their adjacentends'which permit the arch to flex upwardly and said parts to separate,and means associated with saidi'ingers for limiting downward flexure ofsaid arch. l

14. A shoe comprising in combination an insole, an outsole, a metal archsupport built into said shoe and lying between said insole and outsole,said support consisting of a forward part having a convex transversemetatarsal arch support lying under the anterior metatarsal arch andbehind the heads of the metatarsal bones and generally conforming to thecontour of the normal transverse arch, a rear part extending toward theheel and adapted to receive the weight ofthe heel, said parts beingprovided with interengaging means which permit upward flexure of thearch and longitudinal separation of said parts, said rear part being aportion which extends under the forward portion and is adapted to exertan upward pry thereon to produce a vlifting action on the metatarsalarch when weight is placed on the heel, and means for preventingdownward flexure of said arch beyond a given point.

l5. AA shoe comprising in combination an insole, an outsole, an archsupport comprising a plurality of separable relatively flexiblesections, and adhesive tape Wrapped about said sections in the region oftheir juncture to prevent separation thereof in assembly of the shoe andto eliminate noises in the flexing of said sections. Y

16. In a shoe the combination comprising a metal arch support having aforward part provided with a convex metatarsal arch support lying underthe anterior metatarsal arch and behind the heads of the; metatarsalbones, a metal rear portion extending toward the heel of the shoe, ahinged connection between said forward and rear parts and constructedand arranged to permit said parts to flex upwardly, and limiting meansassociated with said hinged connections to limit the downward exure ofsaid parts so as *'lo provide a support Vfor the longitudinal arc 17. Ina shoe the combination comprising a metal shank whose front end is bentback upon itself to overlie the forward portion of said shank to providea convex metatarsal arch support lying under the anterior metatarsalarch and behind the heads of the metatarsal bones, a metal rear portionextending toward the heel of the-shoe, a hinged connection'betweensaidforward and rear parts and constructed and arranged to permit said partsto flex upwardly, and limiting means associated with said hingedconnection to jlimit the downward iiexure of said partsV so as toprovide a support for the p

